Marie Miller announces retirement

Dr. Marie Miller, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Emporia State University, has announced her plan to retire next June.

“I’d like to get more involved in service projects,” said Miller, who lives in Americus where she serves on the city council.

Miller also wants to be more active with the Americus Senior Center and Hand in Hand Hospice. Enjoying her hobbies of camping and traveling as well as visiting her stepson and grandson are also future plans.

“Marie Miller has left an indelible mark at Emporia State University,” said Dr. David Cordle, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “When she retires next summer, she will have served with distinction for more than 20 years in leadership roles ranging from department associate chair to college dean. Her work on behalf of students has changed lives, and her contributions have made ESU a better university. We will miss her greatly.”

Miller became dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on Dec. 25, 2011, after serving as interim dean since August 2011.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wisc.; a master’s degree in music from Northwestern University and a doctorate from Florida State University.

Miller taught vocal and general music in classrooms in Antigo and Green Bay, Wisc., before moving to higher education, serving as an assistant professor of music at Silver Lake College and Southeast Missouri State University.

Since coming to ESU in 1990, Miller has served as associate chair and chair of the Department of Music and interim chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Department of English, Modern Languages and Journalism. It was during the latter position that Miller oversaw the merging of the departments of English-Journalism and Modern Languages.

Miller was named ESU’s Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professor in 2001 and received the Presidential Award for Distinguished Service to Diversity in 1999. She also received the Ruth Schillinger Faculty Award in 2013.

The university will launch a search in January to hire a new dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with July 1, 2014, as the anticipated start date.